Sieebjkg--wheel logs



]..NELSON.

STEERING WHEEL LOCK.

APPLICATION man APR. 2, 1920.

1,393,731. Patented 001. 11, 1921.

l 3,/ H11| I z 11 2 f3\ l' [IH: 'M l1111111111(fi/2% if? 1 w f 3 Z ,e6 [W3 JOHN NELSUN, OF CHICA'GD, ILLINOIS.

STEERNGJWEIEEL LOC.

Application filed April 2,

fl 10 Ulft/.71.0121 fz' 'may concern lle it known that l, loi-1N Neilson. a citizen of the United States. and resident ot Chicago, county of Cook, and State oi' lllinois, have invented certain new and useful linprovernents in Steering-VVheel Locks, of which the following` is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, iorrningiv a part thereof.

T he invention relates to automobile steering` wheel looks, and has tor an object the Lnovision. oit a steering wheel which may be allowed to revolve freely without steering connection with the steering shaft and which can only be connected to the shaft 'for steering:1 hy the `use' of' a key.

ein illustrative enibodinient oi the invention is shown in the acconipanying` drawings., in which- Figure l a horizontal section on line iwi of Fig, 2;

Fig'. 2 is a vertical section on line 9]-2 ot F l;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig-r. l with the key removed;

Figs. e and 5 are detail sections on lines elf-l and omo, respectively, of Fig. 3; and

Fig. (i is a side view ot a key -for use with the lock.

Portions ot two spokes of a steering;v wheel are indicated at ll), 11, and a hub at l2, which hub, with an enlargement 15:3 at one side.y is designed to inclose the device. To make connection with the steering shaft (not shown) an inner hub le is shown. having a keyway 'l5 for reception ot a key to prevent relative inotion hetween the inner hub l/l and the steering,` shaft. To prevent removal ot' huh let troni the steering shaft a lock nut 16 is provided, adapted to screw upon the steering` shat't and to overlap the inner hub 14. A second nut. .not shown, may be screwed upon the steering shaft abovev nut i6, and this nut will cover the joint between the wheel hub and the nut 1.6.

Since the security against theft, furnished b v the invention, depends upon free revolution between the steering wheel l0, ll, and the inner huh le keyed to the steering' shaft, the avoidance oi friction between these parts is vital. li suiiicient friction could be pro-- duced between these parts, as by hearing down on the wheel, it would be quite. possible to steer the machine without a positive interlocking of the parts. 'lo avoid such friction two sets of antifriction bearings, as

Specification of Letters Patent.

ll'atented @et i1, 192i.

192). Serial ll'O. 370,731. i"

ill' and i8. shown ball hearings, are desira'oly provided. llnder these circumstances the outer ot each pair oi races, as 19, 20, are carried by the outer hub l2, and the other races, as 2l, of each pair are carried by the inner huh 14.

To interlock the inner and outer hubs when the machine is to be steered, there is shown a bolt carrying` hub 23, having a bolt formed integral therewith, said holt he lng` adapted to he swung into engagement with any one ot a. plurality of slots 25, termed in the outer surface of the inner huh le. The member 23 is shown as rigidly secured to a shaft 26. as by pin 27 passed` through the parts7 and the shaft 26 is journaled .in the enlargement i3 of the huh l2.

To control the motion oi? rotation of shaft 26 aud hub 23, a loclr 28, ot any suitable well known structure, niay be provided. As shown., the lock comprises a series of leaves 29, alternate leaves oi' which series are caused hy spring pressure to project -from the two sides ot the spacebetween guides 30, 3l, having` slots in which the leaves are held. Diainetrieally spaced slots 32, 33, and 3ft, 85, are 'termed in the wals of the openingr in which shaft 2G and the lock 30 rotate7 which slots coaet with the .leaves 29 to prevent rotation of the shaft. lock brings all the leaves Q9 into alinernent with the cylindricalv surface otl shaft 26, and hence turning of the key will rotate said shaft, carrying with it the bolt llllhile the leaves 29 are n ot in alinernent with either pair of slots 32, 33, or Se. 35, the key cannot be removed. since removal of the key necessitates reciinocation or the leaves 29 out of the notches 3G, 37, 38, ot the key which niotion is prevented by the walls ot the opening); within which the lock turns. Y

To limit the rotation of the lock at definite points where the .leaves 29 will he in alinernent with slots 32, 33, the disk 39, having the key-hole 40, is cut away at its periphery for a portion or' its height upward from the bottom and through a portion of its circum- 'ierenee, to provide shoulders el, All, and a screw Ll2 is provided projecting' through the wall of the huh l2 and into the semi-annular rabbet resulting` from the structure described. li the key he inserted and turned until the shoulders il come into Contact with. the screw and then the key withdrawn, the bolt will lie in one of the slots 25, which must be turned to register with the path ot insertion oi. the key into the` the bolt 24 in order to so turn the key. lilith the key removed the leaves 29 will rest in slots 32, 33, and the bolt 24 Will be locked in place. Reverse rotation of the key will turn the bolt 24 through 1300, and removal of the keywhen shoulder 41 is in contact withy screw 42 will lock the boit 24 in inoperative position.

To prevent removal of the steering Wheel when bolt 24 is locked in inoperative position by merely removing the outer lock nut (not shown) from the end of the steering column and lifting the Wheel, inner hub 14 and hub 23 are each formed With a peripheral groove, as at 43 and 43a, formed on a curve having a radius equal to that of the other part. lllhen assembled the bottoms of these grooves are broughtinto close proximity to each other. Therefore, While each is permitted free rotation relative to the other, yet longitudinal movement of either relative to the other is prevented. The provision of the grooves 43 and 43a furthermore provides that substantially the entire projecting portion of bolt 24 shall be engageable with the Walls of a slot 25, instead of only the portion projecting beyond a plane tangent to hub 23 and contacting with the edges of a slot 25.

To assemble the device the inner hub 14 is first placed on the steering column and nut 16 is screwed on. Nut 16 has a polygonal periphery for coaetion with a. Wrench and is overlapped in portions. rlhe shaft 26 and hub 23 may be assembled Wit-h hub 12 and pin 27 may be placed from the center of the hub prior to placing the Wheel upon the inner hub 14. To permit hub 23 to slip to position a :flattened portion is formed thereon, as at 44. Prior to placing screw 42 in position the shaft 2G may be rotated to a position for this flattened portion to slip past the periphery of hub 14. An unauthorized person cannot reverse the process without the key to produce the rotation of shaft 26. By the term key is meant any usual means for actuating a lock, which means may be a removable article, usually termed a key or a knob, actuating said shaft by first- Working a combination.

Many changes may be made in the physical embodiment of the invention Without departing from its spirit.

I claim as my inventionl. Automobile steering mechanism comprising, in combination, a hub adapted to be keyed to a steering shaft and having a longitudinal slot in its periphery, a steering Wheel hub mounted for free rotation on said firstnamed hub, a bolt-carrying hub mounted in said Wheel hub for rotation on an axis at an angle to the axis of the steering shaft, and a bolt on said bolt-carrying hub adapted to be turned into and out of said slot at will.

2, Automobile steering mechanism comprising, in combination, a hub adapted to be keyed to a ste ring shaft and having a longitudinal slot in its periphery, a steering Wheel hub mounted for free rotation on said firstnamed hub., a bolt-carrying hub mounted in said vvheel hub for rotation on an axis at an angle to the axis of the steering shaft, a bolt on said bolt-carrying hub adapted to be turned into and out of said slot at will, and key operable means for controlling the action of said bolt-carrying hul 3. Automobile steering mechanism Comprising, in combination, a hub adapted to be keyed to a steering` shaft and having a longitudinal slot in its periphery, a` steering ivheel hub mounted for free rotation on said iirstnamed hub, miti-friction bearings between said hubs, a bolt-carrying hub mounted in said Wheel hub for rotation on an axis at an angle to the axis of the steering shaft, andy a bolt on said bolt-carrying hub adapted to he turned into and out of said slot at will.

4. rrutomobile steering mechanism comprising, in combination, a hub adapted to be keyed to a steering shaft, said hub having a longitudinal slot and a circuinferential groove in its periphery, a steering vvheel hub mounted for free rotation on said firstnamed hub, a bolt-carrying hub mounted in said ivheel hub for rotation on an axis at an angle to the axis of the steering shaft`r the periphery of said bolt-carrying hub projecting into said circumferential groove.` a bolt c: rried by said bolt-carryin hub adapted to be' turned into and out of said slot.

Automobile steering mechanism comprising, in combination, a hub adapted to be keyed to a steering shaft, said hub having a longitudinal slot and a circumferential groove in its periphery, a steering ivheel hub mounted for free rotation on said firstnamed hub, a bolt-carrying huh mounted in said Wheel hub for rotation on an axis at an angle to the axis of the steering shaft, the periphery of said bolt-carrying hub projecting into said circumferential groove, a bolt carried by said bolt-carrying hub adapted to be turned into and out of said slot, and key operable means for controlling the action of said bolt-carrying hub.

6. Automobile steering mechanism comprising, in combination, a hub adapted to be keyed to a steering shaft, said hub havingT a longitudinal slot and a circumferential groove in its periphery, a steering Wheel hub mounted for free rotation on said lirst-named hub, a bolt-carrying hub mounted in said ivlieel hub for rotation on an axis at an angle to the axis of the steering shaft, the periphry of said bolt-carrying hub projecting into said circumferential groove and havingT a cut-aivay portion in its periphery to permit assembly of said Wheel hub carrying said bolt-carrying hub ivith said steering shaft hub, and ay bolt carried by said bolt-carrying llO hub adapted to be turned into and out of said slot.

7. Automobile steering mechanism com* prising, in combination, a hub adapted to be keyed to a steering shaft, said hub having a longitudinal slot and a circumferential groove in its periphery, a steering Wheel hub mounted for tree rotation on said first-named hub, a locking hub mounted in said Wheel hub for rotation on an aXis at an angle to the axis of the steering shaft, the periphery of said locking hub projecting into said peripheral groove, said locking hub also having a peripheral groove partially embracing said first-named hub, a bolt carried by and projecting from said locking hub adapted to enter said slot ivith substantially its entire projection whereby the Wheel hub may be at will locked with or freely revolve upon said li rst-named hub.

8. Automobile steering mechanism coinprising, in combination, a hub adapted to be keyed to a steering shaft, said hub having a longitudinal slot and a circumferential groove in its periphery, a steering wheel hub mounted ior free rotation on said lirstnamed hub, a locking hub mounted in said ivheel hub for rotation on an axis at an angle to the axis of the steering shaft, the periph ery oi said locking hub projecting into said peripheral groove, .sa-id locking hub also having a'peripheral groove partially embracing said first-named hub, a bolt carried by and projecting from said locking hub adapted to enter said slot ivith substantially its entire projection, and key operable means 'for controlling the action ot said locking hub Whereby the wheel hub may be at will locked with or freely revolve upon said first-named hubx 9. Automobile steering mechanism comprising, in combination, a hub adapted to be keyed to a steering shaft, said hub having a longitudinal slot and a circumferential groove in its periphery, a steering Wheel hub mounted for free rotation on said first named hub, a locking hub mounted in said vheel hub for rotation on an axis at an angle to the axis or the steering shaft, the periphery ot said locking hub projecting into said peripheral groove, said locking hub also having a peripheral groove partially embracing said first named hub and having a cut away portion in its periphery to permit assembly of the parts, a bolt carried by and projecting from said locking hub adapted to enter said slot With substantially its entire projection whereby the Wheel hub may be, at Will, locked With or freely revolve upon said first named hub.

10. Automobile steering mechanism comprising, in combination, a steering shaft, a steering Wheel revolubly mounted on said shaft, a locking member revolubly mounted on said Wheel, a loclr adapted to positively prevent rotation of said locking member when in locked condition, means whereby said locking member in all positions but one prevents removal ot the Wheel from the shaft, said locking member being revoluble to steering and to non-steering positions and to a position wherein the steering Wheel may be removed from the shaft, a removable stop adapted at all times except When removed to preii'ent said locking member being revolved to Wheel removing position not affecting the turning of the locking member between the said steering and non-steering positions.

l1. The combination of a collar adapted to be secured to the end of a steering post and having a circumferential groove and one or more longitudinal slots therein, a cylin` drical member fitting over said collar, a bolt mounted in said member and registering with said groove, a projection on said bolt for engagement with said slots, a lock for actuating said bolt, and means .ior securing a steering Wheel to said cylindrical member.

12. The combination oi a steering Wheel having a tubular hub, a steering post having a collar fitting in said hub, a transverse bolt mounted in said hub and registering with a circumferential groove in the collar, said bolt having a bit adapted to register With longitudinal slots in the collar for operatively connecting the hub to the collar.

JGHN NELSON. 

